Device for detachably linking a wiper blade to a driven wiper arm

ABSTRACT

A wiper blade assembly for a windshield wiper. In one embodiment, the wiper blade assembly includes a connector mounted on a blade support element. The connector has a receiving portion shaped to receive a first part of the end portion of a wiper arm and further has a securing portion shaped to secure a second part of the end portion of the wiper arm.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.15/332,736 filed Oct. 24, 2016 which is a continuation of U.S.application Ser. No. 14/853,487, filed Sep. 14, 2015 (now U.S. Pat. No.9,499,13), which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.13/531,788 filed Jun. 25, 2012 (now U.S. Pat. No. 9,162,650), which is adivisional application of U.S. application Ser. No. 12/944,776 filedNov. 12, 2010 (now U.S. Pat. No. 8,220,106), which is a continuation ofU.S. application Ser. No. 10/536,054 filed Jan. 19, 2006, now U.S. Pat.No. 7,891,044 which is herein incorporated in its entirety by reference.U.S. Pat. No. 7,891,044 is the National Stage application of PCTInternational Application No. PCT/EP2003/013062 filed Nov. 21, 2003,which claims the benefit of priority from German Patent Application Nos.102 54 978.8 filed Nov. 26, 2002 and 103 23 997.9 filed May 27, 2003.

The invention relates to a device and a method for releasably connectinga wiper blade to a drivable wiper arm, wherein the wiper blade comprisesa wiper strip which faces the windscreen to be wiped, at least onestrip-like elongate support element, a slide element which is connectedto the support element, and a connecting element for connection to acoupling section of the wiper arm, which connecting element is mountedon the slide element in a manner such that it can pivot.

Such a device is known for example from WO 02/40328 A1. The devicedescribed therein, by means of which a flat wiper blade can be connectedto the coupling section, has a large number of complex components whichare difficult to manufacture. Moreover, the operation of connecting thecoupling section of the wiper arm to the connecting element of the wiperblade is relatively complex and requires a certain amount of skill.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to propose a devicefor releasably connecting a wiper blade to a drivable wiper arm, inwhich the operation of connecting the connecting element to the couplingsection can be carried out in a simple manner. Moreover, it is to beensured that the coupling section is joined in a permanently securemanner to the connecting section, wherein the wiper blade cannevertheless be released from the wiper arm in a simple manner.

According to the invention, this object is achieved by a device of thetype described above in that the coupling section has a tongue-likeinsertion section, in that the connecting—element has a seat for theinsertion section, and in that the coupling section and the connectingelement have securing sections for providing a mutual permanentconnection, wherein, in order to reach a preassembly position in whichthe longitudinal axis of the wiper arm and the longitudinal axis of theconnecting element enclose an angle a in the range from approximately10° to 100°, the insertion section can be inserted in a substantiallyrectilinear manner into the seat, and wherein, in order to reach a finalassembly position, the wiper arm and the connecting section can bepivoted onto one another about the insertion section/seat contact areauntil the securing sections allow a permanent mutual connection.

The invention has the advantage that only two steps which are simple tocarry out are required in order to connect the wiper blade to the wiperarm, namely firstly rectilinear insertion of the insertion section intothe seat provided on the connecting element, and pivoting of thecoupling section or of the wiper arm and of the connecting element ontoone another.

Moreover, such a device has the advantage that it is of a very flat andvery narrow design. On the one hand, wind noise is minimized as aresult. On the other hand, the view of the vehicle driver is onlyslightly impaired by the wiper blade and the wiper arm. Furthermore,force introduction preferably takes place over the longitudinal axis ofthe wiper blade, substantially perpendicular to the windscreen to bewiped, and as a result the occurrence of tilting moments is suppressed.

Preferably, the insertion direction for reaching the preassemblyposition lies in the plane of pivoting for reaching the final assemblyposition. This has the advantage that the two movements lie in oneplane, and as a result the assembly operation is simplified.

One embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the couplingsection is designed to be U-shaped in cross section and comprises a backand two legs, wherein the insertion section is designed in a hook-likemanner and is arranged in a stand-alone manner on the back of thecoupling section.

The coupling section, which is designed to be U-shaped in cross section,advantageously engages over the connecting element at least in part inthe final assembly position. As a result, transverse forces acting onthe connecting element can be absorbed by the legs of the couplingsection.

The insertion section is preferably designed such that it is arc-shapedat the free end, in the direction of the extension of the wiper arm andin side view in the direction of the windscreen to be wiped, in such amanner that it does not protrude beyond the back. This has the advantagethat the insertion section, in the final assembly position, does notprotrude in a disruptive manner beyond the back of the coupling section.Given a suitably designed connecting element, the insertion section isnot visible in the final assembly position.

It is advantageous if the region of the connecting element whichcooperates with the insertion section and adjoins the insertion openingis designed to be complementary to the insertion section. In this way itcan be ensured, in the final assembly position, that the insertionsection bears reliably against the complementarily designed region ofthe connecting element.

A further embodiment of the invention is obtained when the region of theconnecting element and of the insertion section which cooperates withthe insertion section is designed to be arc-shaped, and in particularshaped like a segment of a circle, in longitudinal section. When thecoupling section and the connecting element are pivoted onto one anotherin the final assembly position, this ensures that during the pivotingmovement the insertion section bears with a substantial part of itssurface against the region of the connecting element which cooperateswith the insertion section. This ensures reliable guidance whenassembling the device from the preassembly position to the finalassembly position. Stress peaks are avoided on account of thelarge-surface bearing.

One further embodiment is obtained when the connecting element isdesigned to be U-shaped in cross section and comprises a back and twolegs. On account of the U-shaped design of the connecting element, aspoiler section of the wiper strip which faces away from the windscreento be wiped can extend between the two legs of the connecting element inthe longitudinal direction of the wiper blade. Furthermore, theconnecting element can advantageously be coupled at the legs to theslide.

Advantageously, the insertion opening is designed as a cut-out on theback. This has the advantage that the insertion opening can be clearlyseen on the wiper blade in plan view, as a result of which insertion ofthe insertion section into the insertion opening is simplified.

According to the invention, it is furthermore conceivable that, in thefinal assembly position, the coupling section covers the connectingelement at least in part. In the state mounted on the wiper arm, theinner sides of the legs of the U-shaped coupling section then preferablybear against the outer sides of the legs of the U-shaped connectingelement. The outer side of the back of the connecting element preferablybears against the inner side of the back of the coupling section.

A further advantageous embodiment of the invention is obtained when thesecuring sections are designed as locking sections. When the couplingsection and the connecting element are pivoted onto one another, thelocking sections advantageously lock with one another in the finalassembly position.

It may be provided that the connecting element has, on its side facingaway from the insertion opening in the longitudinal direction, on thelegs, in each case a locking tongue which extends in the longitudinaldirection and is elastically flexible in the transverse direction, whichlocking tongues cooperate with locking edges provided on the legs of thecoupling section.

In order to ensure secure locking, it may advantageously be providedthat the locking edges of the locking tongues and the locking edges ofthe legs enclose an acute angle, in particular an angle in the rangefrom approximately 30° to 80°, with the longitudinal axis of the wiperblade in the final assembly position.

In order to release the locking connection, and thus to release thewiper blade from the wiper arm, in a further embodiment of the inventionit may be provided that actuating sections are provided on the free endsof the locking tongues. The actuating sections are designed in such away that the locking tongues can be pressed towards one another, as aresult of which the locking edges of the locking tongues can come out ofengagement with the locking edges on the legs of the coupling section.

In order to allow easier locking, it is advantageously provided that thesides of the locking tongues which face the back of the coupling sectionand meet the legs of the coupling section when pivoted into the finalassembly position are bevelled.

Easier locking is also assisted if the sides of the legs of the couplingsection which face the windscreen and which are met by the facing sidesof the locking sections when pivoted into the final assembly positionare bevelled. Shortly prior to reaching the final assembly position, thebevelled sides of the locking tongues consequently cooperate with thebevelled sides of the legs of the coupling section in such a way thatthe locking tongues are pivoted out in directions towards one another.In the final assembly position, the locking tongues snap behind thelocking edges of the coupling section in directions facing away from oneanother.

In order to prevent a wiper blade from being arranged the wrong wayround on a wiper arm, the coupling section may have a suitable coding.Incorrect assembly of the wiper blade, for example on the incorrectwiper arm, is thus prevented. A coding may be produced for example by asuitable bezel on the coupling section and by a suitable web on theconnecting element which cooperates with the bezel.

A further advantageous embodiment of the invention is obtained when thelegs of the connecting element are designed as double-walled legs whichare slightly elastically flexible in the transverse direction. Suchdouble-walled legs have a better friction behaviour with respect to theslide element against which they are pivotably arranged. Advantageously,the connecting element has, between the legs, a hinge pin which ismounted in a hole on the slide element for the pivotable arrangement ofthe connecting element.

Another embodiment of the invention provides that the slide element hasa bearing bolt or alternatively two hinge pins which project with theirends from the slide element and on which the connecting element ispivotably mounted by bearing holes in its legs, which bearing holes aredesigned in a corresponding manner and are arranged so as to be aligned.In this case, the bearing bolt is or the bearing pins are connectedfixedly against rotation to the slide element, and the connectingelement is mounted on the slide element in a manner such that it canrotate or pivot. When a wiper blade is replaced, therefore, the entirebearing device is exchanged.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the bearing holesprovided in the legs of the connecting element are opened above in eachcase a slot towards the edge, which slot runs radially with respect tothe bearing hole. This may advantageously be used to simplify theassembly of the individual parts.

According to another embodiment, if the slot in each case runs from thebearing hole to the edge of the leg which lies opposite the back of theconnecting element, the risk of the bearing bolt or bearing pinundesirably sliding out of the bearing hole is small.

One further advantageous embodiment provides that in each case the slotexpands from the bearing hole towards the edge of the leg, wherein thenarrowest point of the slot is smaller than the diameter of the bearingbolt or the alternative bearing pins. This embodiment allowssimplification of assembly and disassembly. The bearing bolt or bearingpins can be pressed in racially through the slot in the manner of alocking connection, negotiating the narrow point. Likewise, the bearingbolt or bearing pins can also be removed in the opposite direction,again negotiating the narrow point. To this end, it may be necessary forthe connecting element to be made of a suitable plastics material whichallows the narrow point of the slot to be negotiated by the bearing boltor bearing pins. The slide element and/or the bearing bolt or thebearing pins may be made of metal or likewise made of a suitableplastics material.

A further, advantageous embodiment of the invention provides that thelegs of the connecting element have stud-like raised areas on the sidefacing the windscreen. These raised areas serve for support on eitherthe wiper rubber or the support element, as a result of which easierassembly and disassembly of the wiper blade is made possible.

The coupling section and the connecting element are preferably designedin such a way that, in the final assembly position, they have asubstantially closed and substantially smooth surface. To this end, thesections of the connecting element which are covered by the couplingsection may lie deeper than the sections of the connecting element whichare visible in the final assembly position, the difference in depthbeing the wall thickness of the coupling section.

Further advantageous refinements are provided in order to improve theaerodynamic behavior of the wiper arm/wiper blade combination,particularly at high travelling speeds or airflow velocities, and thusto counteract in particular the known effect of lifting of the wiperblade connected to the wiper arm off the windscreen to be wiped.

By virtue of the measure that the coupling section of the wiper arm hasat least one opening suitable for air to flow through, a dynamicpressure which arises below the U-shape of the coupling section issubstantially broken down. As a result, the lifting force on the wiperarm is reduced.

It is particularly advantageous to provide the at least one opening inthe back of the coupling section. However, an improvement is alsopossible if one or more airflow openings are placed in the legs of thecoupling section, in particular in the lee-side leg. The maximum effectcan probably be achieved by a combination of the individualpossibilities.

Another embodiment provides that at least one spoiler-like air guidemeans is provided on the coupling section of the wiper arm. In this way,the incoming air can be guided in such a way that the effect of thewiper blade or wiper arm being lifted off the windscreen iscounteracted. It is advantageous in this connection for the at least oneair guide means to be arranged on the back of the coupling section. Aspoiler acts particularly effectively at this location.

The advantages of an embodiment, according to which the air guide meansis formed by a section cut free from the back of the coupling sectionand bent upwards in a spoiler-like manner, are to be seen in thecombination of the effects of the spoiler and of the airflow openingformed in this way. The pressing force is thus directly increased and atthe same time the dynamic pressure inside the coupling section isreduced. Moreover, an air guide means produced in this way isparticularly cost-effective.

A further advantageous embodiment provides that at least onespoiler-like air guide means which is preferably made in one piece withthe connecting element is arranged on the back of the connectingelement, and that this at least one air guide means protrudes through a,preferably corresponding, opening in the back of the coupling section.Since the connecting element is advantageously made of plasticsmaterial, a very large number of design possibilities are provided forthe shape of the spoiler-like air guide means with regard toparticularly favourable fluidic properties.

The object mentioned in the introduction is also achieved by a method ofassembling a device according to the invention, which method ischaracterized in that, in order to reach a preassembly position in whichthe longitudinal axis of the wiper arm and the longitudinal axis of theconnecting element enclose an angle a in the range from approximately10° to 100°, the insertion section is inserted in a substantiallyrectilinear manner into the seat, and in that, in order to reach a finalassembly position, the wiper arm and the connecting section can bepivoted onto one another about the insertion section/seat contact areauntil the securing sections enter into a permanent mutual connection.

Further details and advantages of the invention can be found in thefollowing description in which the invention is described and explainedin more detail with reference to examples of embodiments shown in thedrawings.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 shows a device according to the invention in a perspective view;

FIG. 2 shows the device of FIG. 1 without the wiper arm;

FIG. 3 shows a partial section through FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 shows a view from below of the coupling section shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 shows a partial section through the device of FIG. 1 in apreassembly position;

FIG. 6 shows a partial section through the device of FIG. 5 in the finalassembly position;

FIG. 7 shows another embodiment of a device according to the inventionin a perspective view;

FIG. 8 shows a further embodiment of a device according to the inventionin a perspective view;

FIG. 9 shows a final embodiment of a device according to the inventionin a perspective view,

FIG. 10 shows the device of FIG. 9 without the wiper arm; and

FIG. 11 shows another embodiment of a device according to the inventionwithout the wiper arm.

FIG. 1 shows a device 10 according to the invention for releasablyconnecting a wiper blade 12, shown in part, to a drivable wiper arm 14which is likewise shown in part. The wiper blade 12 has a wiper strip 16which faces the windscreen to be wiped (not shown) and comprises twostrip-like elongate support elements 18, 20, a slide element 22 which isconnected to the support elements 18, 20, and a connecting element 24which is arranged on the slide element 22 in a manner such that it canpivot. The connecting element 24 serves for connection to a couplingsection 26 on the wiper arm 14.

The coupling section 26 has, as can be seen in particular in FIG. 4, atongue-like insertion section 28 which, in the final assembly positionshown in FIGS. 1 and 6, engages in a seat 30 which can be clearly seenin FIG. 21 The connecting element 24, which like the coupling section 26is U-shaped in cross section, has a back 32 and two legs 34. The seat 30is provided in the back 32 of the connecting element 24. A bearing hole36 for a bearing bolt 38, which bearing hole extends in the transversedirection, is provided on the legs 34 of the connecting element 24. Onaccount of the bearing hole 36, and the bearing bolt 38, a pivotingarrangement of the connecting element 24 with respect to the slideelement 22 is obtained. In order to achieve a certain flexibility of thelegs 34 while having sufficient stiffness, the legs 34 are designed tobe double-walled.

As can likewise be seen from FIG. 2, the connecting element 24 has, onits side facing away from the insertion opening 30 in the longitudinaldirection, on the legs 24, in each case a locking tongue 40 whichextends in the longitudinal direction and is elastically flexible in thetransverse direction. The locking tongues 40 each comprise a lockingedge 42 and an actuating section 44. The region of the connectingelement 24 which is covered by the coupling section 26 in the finalassembly position is set back from the other regions of the connectingelement 24 which are formed essentially by the two actuating sections 44and a head section 46 which lies in the axial extension of the couplingsection. As a result, in the final assembly position, the couplingsection 26 and the connecting element 24 form a substantially closed andsubstantially smooth surface.

As can be seen from FIG. 3, the region 48 which cooperates with theinsertion section 28 and adjoins the insertion opening 30 is designed tobe complementary to the insertion section 28. As can be seen from FIGS.4 and 5, the insertion section 28 is designed in an arc-shaped manner inthe direction of the extension of the wiper arm 14 and in side view inthe direction of the windscreen to be wiped. Correspondingly, as can beseen from FIGS. 3 and 5, the region 48 is likewise designed to bearc-shaped, in particular in the shape of a segment of a circle.

It can be seen from FIG. 4 that the coupling section is designed in aU-shaped manner in cross section and has a back 50 and legs 52, 54 whichadjoin the back. The insertion section 28 is in this case arranged in astand-alone manner in, the extension of the back 50. Provided on thelegs 52, 54 are locking edges 56 which enclose an angle R ofapproximately 70° with the longitudinal axis 58 of the wiper arm 14(FIGS. 5 and 6). The locking edges 42 of the locking tongues 40 enclosea corresponding angle R. In the final assembly position shown in FIG. 6,the locking edges 42 of the locking tongues 40 bear against the lockingedges 56 of the legs 52, 54 of the coupling section 26.

It can be seen from FIGS. 2 and 5 that the sides 60 of the lockingtongues 40 which face the back 50 of the coupling section 26 areslightly bevelled. In a corresponding manner, the sides 62 of the legsof the coupling section 26 which face the windscreen and cooperate withthe sides 60 of the coupling section 26 when pivoted into the finalassembly position are also slightly bevelled.

For assembly of the coupling section 26 to the connecting element 24, inorder to reach a preassembly position which is shown in FIG. 5, theinsertion section 28 is inserted into the seat 30 in a substantiallyrectilinear manner in the direction of the arrow 64. In this preassemblyposition, the longitudinal axis of the wiper arm 14 and the longitudinalaxis of the connecting element 24 or of the wiper blade 12 enclose anangle a which may lie in the range from approximately 10 to 100°. In theexample of embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the angle a has a value ofapproximately 40°. In order to reach the final assembly position, whichis shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 6, the wiper arm 14 and the connectingsection 24 are pivoted onto one another about the contact area 66 inwhich the insertion section 28 bears against the region 48 of the seat30. On account of the complementary design of the insertion section 28and the region 48, the pivoting operation is carried out to a limitedextent. Shortly prior to reaching the final assembly position, thebevelled sides 62 of the coupling section 26 and the correspondinglybevelled sides 60 of the locking tongues 40 meet one another in such away that the locking tongues 40 are pivoted elastically in a directionfacing one another. Upon reaching the final assembly position, thelocking tongues 40 snap behind the locking edges 56 of the legs 52, 54of the coupling section 26 in a direction facing away from one another.As a result, the coupling section 26 is permanently held on theconnecting element 24 in the final assembly position. In the finalassembly position, the coupling section 28 bears against the region 48of the connecting element 24 over a large part of its surface.Furthermore, the end side 68 of the coupling section 26 which faces thehead area 46 of the connecting element 26 bears against a bearing edge70 of the connecting element which corresponds thereto.

On account of the locking edges 42, 56 which are not perpendicular tothe longitudinal axis of the wiper blade but rather enclose an acuteangle p with the longitudinal axis, in the assembled state the couplingsection 26 is acted upon in the direction of the head section 46. As aresult, a play-free connection is obtained in the axial direction.Moreover, by virtue of the obliquely arranged locking edges 42, 56, thecoupling section 26 is acted upon in the direction of the wiper blade12, as a result of which a play-free connection is produced in thedirection perpendicular to the wiper blade. The insertion section 28 inthis case bears against the contact region 48 of the connecting element24 with slight prestress.

In order to release the connection, the actuating sections 44 arepressed towards one another. As a result, the locking edges 42 of thelocking tongues 40 come out of the engagement region of the lockingedges 56 of the coupling section 26. Since the actuating sections arearranged opposite one another, the actuating sections 44 can be pressedtogether by a simple hand grip, using one hand. The coupling section 26is then pivoted away from the connecting element 24 until thepreassembly position reached in FIG. 5 is almost reached. The insertionsection 28 is then moved out of the seat 30 in the direction counter tothe arrow 64.

As can be clearly seen in FIG. 5, it may be provided that the legs 34 ofthe connecting element have stub-like raised areas 72 on the side facingthe windscreen. These raised areas serve for support on the slideelement 22. The raised areas 22 restrict the pivoting range of theconnecting element 24 with respect to the slide element 22. As a result,easier assembly and disassembly of the wiper blade 12 from the wiper arm14 is possible.

In the bent region of the insertion section 28, a material cut-out inthe form of a cylindrical hole 74 is provided.

In order to prevent it from being possible for the wiper blade, whichhas a spoiler-like projection 76 on its side facing away from the wiperstrip 16, to be mounted on the incorrect wiper arm, a coding may beprovided on the connecting element 24 and on the coupling section 26.Such a coding may be formed for example by a bevelled corner 78 on theleg 54 of the coupling section 26, as shown in a corresponding manner inFIG. 4. The bevelled corner 78 may in this case correspond to a materialdeposit at the corresponding location on the connecting element 24,which material deposit is designed in a complementary manner and is notshown in the figures. Since only one of two wiper blades, the respectiveright-hand or left-hand wiper blade, has a corresponding materialdeposit on the connecting element, a clear assignment of the right-handor left-hand wiper blade to the right-hand or left-hand wiper arm isensured.

For the example of embodiment shown in FIG. 7, in general the samedescription as above in respect of the first example of embodiment shownin FIGS. 1 to 6 applies. The same references have thus been used in FIG.7 as in FIG. 1.

The essential difference of the example of embodiment shown in FIG. 7 isthat an opening 80 is additionally provided in the back 50 of thecoupling section 26 belonging to the wiper arm 14. This opening 80 makesit possible for air flowing below the U-shape of the coupling section toleave the space formed below the U-shape on a relatively short path byflowing through the opening 80. In this way, the dynamic pressure belowthe coupling section 26 is reduced compared to an embodiment without theopening 80, and this leads to a comparative reduction in the liftingforce of the wiper arm 14 as air flows through.

Instead of the one opening 80, it would also be possible for a number ofopenings 80 to be provided in the coupling section 26, wherein one ormore openings 80 may also be made in one of the two legs 52, 54 or inboth legs 52, 54. The size, shape and position of the one or moreopenings 80 should be optimized with regard to as considerable an effectas possible in a manner depending on the geometric conditions of theindividual components of the device 10 and of the device 10 as a whole.Likewise, the shape and size of the one or more openings 80 may beadapted to the design of the coupling section 26.

Also for the further example of embodiment shown in FIG. 8, the samedescription as that given above in respect of the first example ofembodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 6 applies.

The essential difference of the example of embodiment shown in FIG. 8 isthat a spoiler-like air guide means 82 is formed on the back 50 of thecoupling section 26. In order to produce the air guide means 82, a moreor less rectangular section which is oriented in the longitudinaldirection of the coupling section 26 has been cut free from or punchedout of the back 50 of the coupling section 26, at its two narrow sidesand on one longitudinal side, and bent upwards out of the plane of theback 50. In this case, the air guide means 82 may be given a rounded,wing-like shape. The air guide means 82 is connected on its longitudinalside facing the incoming air to the back 50. By virtue of thebending-out operation, the opening 80 in the back 50 is made at the sametime behind the air guide means 82, which opening can be flowed throughby a stream of air. In FIG. 8, the reference line belonging to reference80 is shown in dashed line because the view of the opening 80 is hiddenby the air guide means 82 in this perspective view. The air guide means82 and the opening 80 may be produced from steel sheet as a punched andbent part in a cost-effective manner by punching and bending during theprocess of manufacturing the coupling section.

The aerodynamic advantages of such a design are on the one hand thepressing force produced by the air guide means, which pressing forceacts on the wiper arm 14, and on the other hand the reduction in thedynamic pressure below the U-shape of the coupling section 26.

The special feature of the example of embodiment shown in FIGS. 9 and 10is that an opening is provided in the back 50 of the coupling section 26and that a spoiler-like air guide means 84 arranged on the back 32 ofthe connecting element 24 passes through this opening to the top side ofthe coupling section 26. When air flows across the air guide means 84,the pressing force of the wiper arm 14 is increased and the liftingforce is reduced.

In FIG. 9, it can be seen that the shape and the size of the opening inthe coupling section 26 and the base area of the air guide means 84 areadapted to one another. Moreover, the air guide means 84 is connected tothe back 32 of the connecting element 24 via a pedestal 86. The heightof the pedestal 86 corresponds to the wall thickness of the back 50 ofthe coupling section 26, so that the top side of the back 50 adjoins theair guide means 84 at least virtually free of any clearance or shoulder.As a result, the aerodynamics are improved and airflow noises arereduced.

Unlike the diagram in FIGS. 9 and 10, the opening in the back 50 of thecoupling section 26 may advantageously also be greater than the basearea of the air guide means 84 or the pedestal 86 thereof. In this case,only part of the opening would be filled by the air guide means 84. Thepart of the opening which is not filled thus acts as an airflow opening,and as a result the dynamic pressure below the U-shape of the couplingsection 26 is in turn reduced. This embodiment is not shown in thedrawing.

Another embodiment which is not shown in the drawing consists in that,in a device as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, additionally at least oneopening is provided in the back and/or in at least one of the legs 52,54 for reducing the dynamic pressure below the U-shape of the couplingsection 26.

A final example of embodiment is shown in FIG. 11. This example ofembodiment corresponds in a very large number of features to theembodiment shown in FIG. 2, which is why the fundamental design will notbe repeated here and the same reference numerals are used for identicalparts and elements.

In the example of embodiment shown in FIG. 11, the slide element 22 hastwo bearing pins 88 which are arranged so as to be aligned with oneanother and which project from the slide element 22 transversely withrespect to the longitudinal direction of the wiper blade 12. The bearingpins 88, only one of which can be seen in FIG. 11 on account of theperspective view, are made in one piece with the slide element 22. Theslide element 22 will advantageously be manufactured as a whole as adiecast metal part or as an injection-moulded plastic part.

Bearing holes 90 which are aligned with one another are formed in thetwo legs 34 of the connecting element 24, said connecting element havingessentially the shape of a U in cross section, once again only one ofthe bearing holes 90 being visible in FIG. 11 on account of theperspective view. The bearing holes 90 are adapted to the bearing pins88 in such a way that pivoting of the slide element 22 relative to theconnecting element 24 can take place in as play-free a manner aspossible. One essential difference compared to the embodiment shown inFIG. 2 is that the bearing holes 90 are each opened radially above aslot 92 which runs from the bearing hole 90 towards the lower edge ofthe leg 34, that is to say the edge opposite the back 32 of theconnecting element 24. The slot 92 expands from the edge of the bearinghole 90 towards the edge of the leg 34. The narrow point of the slot 92is in this case narrower than the diameter of the respective bearing pin88. Upon assembly or disassembly of the slide element 22 and theconnecting element 24, the bearing pins 88 are pressed radially into thebearing holes 90 or out of the latter through the slots 92 in the mannerof a locking connection, negotiating the narrow point. As a result,these processes are considerably simplified, and moreover a sufficientlyreliable seating or holding of the bearing pins 88 in the bearing holes90 is ensured.

Usually, the connection of a wiper blade 12 provided with such a slideelement 22 and such a connecting element 24 to a wiper arm 14 or to thecoupling section 26 of a wiper arm 14, and removal thereof in theopposite direction, take place in the same general manner, as has beendescribed in connection with FIGS. 1 to 6. However, in the embodimentshown in FIG. 11, there is also the possibility firstly of attaching theconnecting element 24, separated from the wiper blade 12, in thisgeneral way to the coupling section 26 of the wiper arm 14 and thenmounting the slide element 22 connected to the wiper blade 12 on theconnecting element 24 by pushing the bearing pins 88 radially throughthe slots 92 into the bearing holes 90. It is also conceivable to carryout a disassembly operation by reversing the sequence of theselast-mentioned steps.

Devices for releasably connecting a wiper blade to a wiper arm whichcorrespond to the examples of embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 to 10 aresuitable in particular for use in wiper systems for front windscreens ofvehicles, whereas the device corresponding to the example of embodimentshown in FIG. 11 is suitable in particular for use in wiper systems forrear windows of vehicles.

All of the features found in the description, the drawings and theclaims may be essential to the invention both individually and in anydesired combination with one another.

1. A wiper blade assembly comprising: a wiper blade; and a connectorconfigured to be coupled to said wiper blade such that said connectorand said wiper blade pivot relative to each other about a pivot, saidpivot having a pivot axis extending through lateral side walls of saidconnector in a direction transverse to a longitudinal axis of said wiperblade; wherein said connector has a front portion on a front side of theconnector relative to the pivot and a rear portion on a rear side of theconnector relative to said pivot, said front portion defining part of anopening on an outer top surface of said front portion, wherein saidconnector has a mid-portion between said front and rear portions,wherein a highest portion of said front portion projects higher abovethe longitudinal axis of the wiper blade than a highest portion of themid-portion and a highest portion of the rear portion, and wherein theopening borders on the highest portion of said front portion.
 2. Thewiper blade assembly according to claim 1, wherein the mid-portionextends between lateral sides of said mid-portion.
 3. The wiper bladeassembly according to claim 2, wherein an outer top surface of saidmid-portion extends between lateral sides of said mid-portion.
 4. Thewiper blade assembly according to claim 1, wherein said rear portionincludes at least one securing member positioned on a lateral side ofsaid rear portion.
 5. The wiper blade assembly according to claim 4,wherein the pivot is located at least partially between the frontportion and the at least one securing member.
 6. The wiper bladeassembly according to claim 4, wherein the at least one securing memberis elastically flexible.
 7. The wiper blade assembly according to claim4, wherein the connector includes a transverse member located betweenthe at least one securing member and the pivot axis.
 8. The wiper bladeassembly according to claim 7, wherein the transverse member is closerto a front of the connector than a front edge of the at least onesecuring member.
 9. The wiper blade assembly according to claim 4,wherein the at least one securing member includes a beveled side. 10.The wiper blade assembly according to claim 4, wherein the at least onesecuring member includes a locking edge.
 11. The wiper blade assemblyaccording to claim 4, wherein the at least one securing member extendsfrom a longitudinal wall of the connector.
 12. The wiper blade assemblyaccording to claim 1, wherein the opening abuts the middle portion. 13.The wiper blade assembly according to claim 12, wherein the openingextends across a center of the front portion of the connector.
 14. Thewiper blade assembly according to claim 1, wherein the opening does notextend into the lateral side walls of the connector.
 15. A wiper bladeassembly, comprising: a wiper blade; a connector configured to becoupled to said wiper blade such that said connector and said wiperblade pivot relative to each other about a pivot, said pivot having apivot axis extending through lateral side walls of said connector in adirection transverse to a longitudinal axis of said wiper blade; and awiper arm including a coupling section to be attached to the connector,wherein said connector has a front portion on a front side of theconnector relative to the pivot and a rear portion on a rear side of theconnector relative to said pivot, said front portion defining part of anopening on an outer top surface of said front portion, and said rearportion having at least one securing member positioned on a respectivelateral side of said rear portion, wherein said coupling section of thewiper arm includes an insertion section, and the insertion sectionincludes a hole, and wherein the front portion includes a projectingregion that bears against the insertion section when the couplingsection of the wiper arm is attached to the connector.
 16. The wiperblade assembly according to claim 15, wherein a highest portion of saidfront portion projects higher above the longitudinal axis of the wiperblade than a highest portion of the mid-portion and a highest portion ofthe rear portion.
 17. A wiper blade assembly comprising: a wiper blade;and a connector configured to be coupled to said wiper blade such thatsaid connector and said wiper blade pivot relative to each other about apivot, said pivot having a pivot axis extending through lateral sidewalls of said connector in a direction transverse to a longitudinal axisof said wiper blade; wherein said connector has a front portion on afront side of the connector relative to the pivot and a rear portion ona rear side of the connector relative to said pivot, said front portiondefining part of an opening on an outer top surface of said frontportion, wherein said connector has a mid-portion between said front andrear portions, wherein an outer top surface of said front portionincludes a rear edge, and the rear edge includes at least one edgesection that is substantially parallel to the pivot axis and at leastone longitudinal section that connects to an inner end of the at leastone edge section and that is substantially parallel to the longitudinalaxis.
 18. The wiper blade assembly according to claim 17, wherein theopening abuts the at least one longitudinal section of the rear edge ofthe outer top surface of said front portion.
 19. The wiper bladeassembly according to claim 17, wherein a highest portion of said frontportion projects higher above the longitudinal axis of the wiper bladethan a highest portion of the mid-portion and a highest portion of therear portion.
 20. The wiper blade assembly according to claim 19,wherein the opening borders on the highest portion of said frontportion.
 21. The wiper blade assembly according to claim 17, wherein therear edge includes at least one vertical edge section that issubstantially orthogonal to the at least one longitudinal section andthe at least one edge section that is substantially parallel to thepivot axis.
 22. The wiper blade assembly according to claim 21, whereina height of the at least one vertical edge section substantiallycorresponds to a wall thickness of a back of a coupling section of awiper arm to be coupled to the connector.
 23. The wiper blade assemblyaccording to claim 17, wherein said front portion includes a lowersurface positioned further away from said wiper blade than a lowersurface of said mid-portion.
 24. The wiper blade assembly according toclaim 17, wherein said front portion includes a securing surface locatedat a level below the outer top surface of said front portion to secure adistal end of a coupling section of a wiper arm to be coupled to theconnector.
 25. The wiper blade assembly according to claim 17, whereinsaid front portion includes at least one abutting edge at a level belowthe outer top surface of said front portion to abut a back of a wiperarm to be coupled to the connector, the at least one abutting edge beingpositioned internal to the lateral side walls of the connector andsubstantially parallel to the longitudinal axis.